Buffel grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Buffel-grass
• Buffel Grass
• African Foxtail Grass
• Buffalo Grass
• African Foxtail
• Blue buffalo grass
• Foxtail Buffalo Grass
• Malopo Blue Buffel-Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cenchrus ciliaris var. longisetosus
• Pennisetum cenchroides var. echioides
• Pennisetum cenchroides var. hamphilahense
• Pennisetum ciliare var. leptostachya
• Pennisetum ciliare var. robustior
• Cenchrus rufescens
• Pennisetum incomptum
• Cenchrus pennisetiformis var. intermedius
• Pennisetum distylum
• Pennisetum rangei
• Cenchrus longifolius
• Pennisetum rufescens
• Cenchrus melanostachyus
• Pennisetum oxyphyllum
• Cenchrus bulbosus
• Pennisetum panormitanum
• Pennisetum petraeum
• Cenchrus ciliaris f. intermedius
• Pennisetum polycladum
• Cenchrus ciliaris subsp. ibrahimii
• Pennisetum teneriffae
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. anachoreticus
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. leptostachys
• Pennisetum ciliare var. leptostachys
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. nubicus
• Pennisetum ciliare var. pallens
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. pallens
• Pennisetum ciliare var. robustius
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. robustior
• Pennisetum ciliare
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. villifer
• Pennisetum ciliare var. anachoreticum
• Cenchrus glaucus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, situated within the family Poaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cenchrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across multiple continents. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within the regions of Greece and Sicilia. Furthermore, the species is well-established in Northern Africa. Within this African territory, it is documented in both Algeria and Egypt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cenchrus ciliares is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and varied terrain. It thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, inhabiting a wide spectrum of biomes and ecosystems, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Ombrophilous Forest (including rain forests), Mangroves, and Restinga. Additionally, it is frequently found in anthropic areas, indicating its ability to colonize disturbed landscapes and human-modified environments.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Manguezal, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Cenchrus ciliaris is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a geophyte, utilizing underground structures to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, and is classified under the broader life form category of cryptophyte, where its vital growing points remain protected at or below the soil surface.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cenchrus ciliaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This terrestrial plant exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation and is categorized as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or vine. It functions as an independent species, lacking parasitic tendencies, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.955 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.955 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cenchrus ciliaris is characterized by highly specialized morphological and metabolic adaptations designed for efficiency in arid environments. The plant utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, a sophisticated mechanism that minimizes photorespiration and enhances carbon fixation efficiency under high temperature and light intensity conditions. Its foliar morphology is notably linear and narrow, with leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1 cm. The leaves exhibit significant longitudinal variation in size, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, providing a specialized surface area-to-volume ratio that assists in regulating transpiration and optimizing light interception during its metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cenchrus ciliaris is characterized by a specific phenological window and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period is concentrated primarily in April, though the timing can be variable across different environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a notable range in mass, reflecting high variability in reproductive output; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.00124 g, with individual seeds weighing as little as 0.00003 g (3e-05 g) and reaching a maximum of 0.00438 g. These seeds are propagated through an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind, which allows the plant to colonize new areas effectively.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass max:

0.00438 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00124183333333333 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cenchrus ciliaris has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Chemicals

Cenchrus ciliaris has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cenchrus ciliaris has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Conditions

Cenchrus ciliaris has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Hepatocellular carcinoma, arthritis, colorectal carcinoma, inflammation, menstrual pains.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colorectal carcinoma

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Menstrual pains

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nociception

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pyrexia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tumors

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Urinary tract infection

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Cenchrus ciliaris has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, methanol extract, n-hexane extract, root methanolic extracts.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

N-hexane extract

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Root methanolic extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)